BOSTON — Al Horford was named to the NBA's All-Defensive second team on Wednesday.


 


While the 11-year veteran said it was "an honor" to get the nod at this point of his career, he said before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden that his selection was symbolic of what his teammates did to make the Celtics the top statistical squad defensively in the NBA this season.


 


"I [...]

SCOTT SOUZA The MetroWest Daily News

BOSTON — Al Horford was named to the NBA's All-Defensive second team on Wednesday.

 

While the 11-year veteran said it was “an honor” to get the nod at this point of his career, he said before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden that his selection was symbolic of what his teammates did to make the Celtics the top statistical squad defensively in the NBA this season.

 

“I just think it defines the success that we’ve had as a team defensively,” Horford said. “From our group, in all honesty, you could have put any one of us in there. Aron Baynes, with the job that he does, to Marcus Smart, Jaylen [Brown], the list goes on.

 

“For me, it was more of what we did as a team. That’s why I got recognized.”

 

Horford had the eighth-highest point total in voting with 85 points. Smart was 17th and Brown was 19th. Baynes, who moved into the starting lineup for Wednesday’s Game 5, did not receive any votes despite getting a lot of support from Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Horford.

 

“Our defense speaks for itself,” Stevens said. “So I don’t think they are going to lose sleep over [receiving] an award or not. To me, [Horford and Smart] are easily both All-Defensive players. I think Baynes had an All-Defensive year as well.

 

“I realize you can’t take multiple people from one team — maybe that’s the deal. Those guys all, along with our young guys, everybody was committed on that end of the floor all year, and it was led by [Baynes, Horford and Smart].”

 

Stevens said Horford gives him the luxury of both orchestrating the team’s defense on the floor and often guarding the opposition’s most dynamic forward or center.

 

“Him being able to anchor and communicate the defense through an action while still being able to guard the best forward on the other team, is really hard," Stevens said. "This year he took even more steps. Last year we didn’t try him on Giannis [Antetokounmpo]. We didn’t try him on guys like Ben Simmons. This year those have been his matchups every other night because the league continues to get smaller, and faster, and more skilled at the [power forward position].”

 

Horford said he has relished that opportunity after mostly banging with the biggest guys on the court throughout his career.

 

“With Baynes being here it really gave me freedom to defend out on the perimeter and do different things,” Horford said. “It was a challenge that I was really excited about going into the season. It’s been a lot of fun.

 

“Once I got out there, I realized I could do it. I’ve always felt like I was a good defender. It was always fun to go against the top guys and have to defend them.”

 

Irving dying to be on the court

 

Stevens said he has had regular talks with Kyrie Irving and that, while the injured All-Star is disappointed with sitting out the conference finals, he is happy that his team is in this position even without him.

 

“In our sitdowns, and just our casual conversation, he seems to be in a great place,” Stevens said before the game. “It’s killing him not to be out on the floor. But I think that would be the case anytime you are playing this deep into the playoffs — especially if you are playing in a new place.

 

“Other than that, his recovery is going great and we’re excited about that.”

 

Baynes gets the start

 

The coach made the lineup switch with Baynes getting the starting nod in favor of Marcus Morris official about 20 minutes before tip.

 

He was asked pregame why he’s been so reticent to announce changes in advance this year after being more willing to reveal lineup switches in playoffs past.

 

“I don’t think I knew the rules,” he said. “Nobody told me the rules when I got here. They just sent me out here to do the media sessions before the game. Nobody said I didn’t have to say [if there is a change]. I guess I am learning every day.”

 

The coach did reveal Shane Larkin was again out with a sore shoulder and added he is unlikely to be ready to return at any time in the conference finals.